And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Elijah had shut heaven against dew and rain by his word for more than three years of drought, and when he prayed again heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth its fruit in restored fruitfulness. He was a man subject to like passions as others, sharing common human weakness. At Carmel he prayed six times without any sign that his request was granted, and prayed seven times until only a small cloud appeared as the first evidence before the rain came. The withholding and return of rain was judgment on Israel's idolatry, to show that Baal had no power to give temporal blessings and that rain and fruitfulness depend on God, and the famine was a merciful judgment to turn the people to repentance and restore them to faithfulness. The restored rain demonstrates the power of earnest, fervent prayer heard and answered by God, for heaven is open to the prayers of the righteous and prayer joins human faith to God's power to receive His blessings.
Elijah's Drought and Rain
After he prayed again, heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth its fruit, restoring fruitfulness to the land. His word had shut heaven against dew and rain for three years, and after more than three years of drought his prayer was the key that brought the showers again. He was a man subject to like passions as others, sharing human weaknesses.
At Mount Carmel his faith was tested when he prayed six times without seeing a sign that his request had been granted, yet he kept asking until the answer came. He prayed seven times until the cloud was seen, before rain came in answer. The first evidence was only a small cloud.
The withholding and return of rain were connected with judgment on Israel's idolatry, for he pleaded for drought. Dew and rain were withheld to show that Baal had no power to provide temporal blessings and that rain and fruitfulness depended on God, not idols. The drought during a long period of famine was a merciful judgment meant to lead the people to repentance, to turn Israel from idolatry and restore it to faithfulness and allegiance to God. It was to continue until Israel repented and acknowledged God, his prayer was joined to that longing for Israel to turn and return to allegiance, and he had to wait patiently for God's time to act.
Power of Persevering Prayer
The return of rain after Elijah prayed again shows the power of earnest, fervent prayer heard and answered by God in a striking way, with the earth bringing forth its fruit as proof. The prayer of faith in this example strengthens believers and prevails against Satan. His praying joined human faith to divine power, for prayer does not change God but brings people near to Him and enables them to receive His blessings, proving the value of communion with God.
Heaven stands open to the fervent prayers of the righteous, for though Elijah shared human weakness his petitions were heard and answered with rain and fruitfulness. God reveals His power in answer to such prayer, and He hears prayer as a source of strength in weakness and danger. Devoted, humble people who acknowledge their need and plead with God in faith and trust may therefore see Him reveal His power and aid their work as He did for Elijah.
Elijah's experience teaches perseverance in prayer rather than giving up too soon, for his faith was tested when he prayed six times without seeing a sign that his request had been granted, yet he kept asking until the answer came. Petitions must be pressed to the throne without letting go too quickly, holding fast to God's promises and holding on by faith, believing the things asked for are received. He prayed seven times until the cloud was seen, and faith should endure while people keep praying and hold firmly to God. God's promises are sure.
Persevering, unyielding faith can take hold of God in prayer, and God hears such prayer made on behalf of His people. It can rely on His promise even when the first evidence is only a small cloud, and may ask with persistence and claim what He has promised. Believers should trust His sure promises instead of dwelling on their own unworthiness.
Following the prescription of prayer given in James chapter 5 brings healing to the sick, so that even a sick child is to be trusted in the Lord's hands without an earthly physician and without fear. The Lord will then work as no earthly physician could, causing fast improvement and recovery. Humble, fervent prayer also saves the soul from death. When His children fall, if the heart has not been hardened by disregard of great light, the Lord permits the fall and then helps them if they repent to stand on vantage ground, purifying them by temptation and trial as fire purifies gold, with confession and restitution hiding a multitude of sins, and some lessons are learned only through failure, as Peter was a better man after his fall.
Elijah had shut heaven against dew and rain by his word for more than three years of drought, and when he prayed again heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth its fruit in restored fruitfulness. He was a man subject to like passions as others, sharing common human weakness. At Carmel he prayed six times without any sign that his request was granted, and prayed seven times until only a small cloud appeared as the first evidence before the rain came. The withholding and return of rain was judgment on Israel's idolatry, to show that Baal had no power to give temporal blessings and that rain and fruitfulness depend on God, and the famine was a merciful judgment to turn the people to repentance and restore them to faithfulness. The restored rain demonstrates the power of earnest, fervent prayer heard and answered by God, for heaven is open to the prayers of the righteous and prayer joins human faith to God's power to receive His blessings.
Elijah's Drought and Rain
After he prayed again, heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth its fruit, restoring fruitfulness to the land. His word had shut heaven against dew and rain for three years, and after more than three years of drought his prayer was the key that brought the showers again. He was a man subject to like passions as others, sharing human weaknesses.
At Mount Carmel his faith was tested when he prayed six times without seeing a sign that his request had been granted, yet he kept asking until the answer came. He prayed seven times until the cloud was seen, before rain came in answer. The first evidence was only a small cloud.
The withholding and return of rain were connected with judgment on Israel's idolatry, for he pleaded for drought. Dew and rain were withheld to show that Baal had no power to provide temporal blessings and that rain and fruitfulness depended on God, not idols. The drought during a long period of famine was a merciful judgment meant to lead the people to repentance, to turn Israel from idolatry and restore it to faithfulness and allegiance to God. It was to continue until Israel repented and acknowledged God, his prayer was joined to that longing for Israel to turn and return to allegiance, and he had to wait patiently for God's time to act.
Power of Persevering Prayer
The return of rain after Elijah prayed again shows the power of earnest, fervent prayer heard and answered by God in a striking way, with the earth bringing forth its fruit as proof. The prayer of faith in this example strengthens believers and prevails against Satan. His praying joined human faith to divine power, for prayer does not change God but brings people near to Him and enables them to receive His blessings, proving the value of communion with God.
Heaven stands open to the fervent prayers of the righteous, for though Elijah shared human weakness his petitions were heard and answered with rain and fruitfulness. God reveals His power in answer to such prayer, and He hears prayer as a source of strength in weakness and danger. Devoted, humble people who acknowledge their need and plead with God in faith and trust may therefore see Him reveal His power and aid their work as He did for Elijah.
Elijah's experience teaches perseverance in prayer rather than giving up too soon, for his faith was tested when he prayed six times without seeing a sign that his request had been granted, yet he kept asking until the answer came. Petitions must be pressed to the throne without letting go too quickly, holding fast to God's promises and holding on by faith, believing the things asked for are received. He prayed seven times until the cloud was seen, and faith should endure while people keep praying and hold firmly to God. God's promises are sure.
Persevering, unyielding faith can take hold of God in prayer, and God hears such prayer made on behalf of His people. It can rely on His promise even when the first evidence is only a small cloud, and may ask with persistence and claim what He has promised. Believers should trust His sure promises instead of dwelling on their own unworthiness.
Following the prescription of prayer given in James chapter 5 brings healing to the sick, so that even a sick child is to be trusted in the Lord's hands without an earthly physician and without fear. The Lord will then work as no earthly physician could, causing fast improvement and recovery. Humble, fervent prayer also saves the soul from death. When His children fall, if the heart has not been hardened by disregard of great light, the Lord permits the fall and then helps them if they repent to stand on vantage ground, purifying them by temptation and trial as fire purifies gold, with confession and restitution hiding a multitude of sins, and some lessons are learned only through failure, as Peter was a better man after his fall.